Randy Carlyle on Jake Newton.
Randy Carlyle today gave his thoughts on Jake Newton, the San Jacinto native who survived the first round of training-camp cuts, but not the second.
"I think in some situations he played in, he was unsure of himself and made some decisions that showed his inexperience," the Ducks' head coach said. "We're asking a lot of a young player who had only played college and practice with our hockey club."
Carlyle praised the 22-year-old defenseman for his skating ability, size, skills, "moving the puck with authority," and "brain for the game." The coach, himself a former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, said that Newton needs to move his feet more, and avoid "not backing up and being as close to the check as possible."
Newton wasn't expected to make the NHL roster. In his one exhibition game he had a goal and an assist, but Carlyle noticed a difference from practice to the game.
"When you see him skate in practice, it's not the same skating in the game," Carlyle said. "That tells you the player is a little bit away from his comfort zone."
"I think in some situations he played in, he was unsure of himself and made some decisions that showed his inexperience," the Ducks' head coach said. "We're asking a lot of a young player who had only played college and practice with our hockey club."
Carlyle praised the 22-year-old defenseman for his skating ability, size, skills, "moving the puck with authority," and "brain for the game." The coach, himself a former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, said that Newton needs to move his feet more, and avoid "not backing up and being as close to the check as possible."
Newton wasn't expected to make the NHL roster. In his one exhibition game he had a goal and an assist, but Carlyle noticed a difference from practice to the game.
"When you see him skate in practice, it's not the same skating in the game," Carlyle said. "That tells you the player is a little bit away from his comfort zone."
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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